Superfine-gold extractor.



C. SUITER.

SUPERFINE GOLD EXTRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY24, 191.4.

LIMW., Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IIIA #N w C. SUITER.

SUPERFINE GOLD EXTRACTOR.

APPLlcATxoN man 1uLv24, 1914.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- f i tinta srs rana rio. f

CHARLES SUITER, OF BILLINGS, MONTANA.

`Slll?REFINE-GroLID Specification of Lette-rs Batent.

Applieeteu'nled July 24, 191,4. ASer'tlle:8512.89.8-

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, .CHARLES SUITER, a citizen .of the United States,residing at. Billings, in the `county of Yellowstoneand State ofMontana, ,have invented-certain neu7 and iiseful Improvements inSuperiine-.Grold Extractors, of Which .the following is aspeciplication.

This invention relates to the general subject of extracting machines, oramalgamators, for recovering precious metals from their ores, and has.specially in View a novel and practical .construction of machine ofthis character which possesses special utility as a superne goldextractor, that is to say, a machine :having Ameans for recovering verysmall and light particles of metal, such as float-gold, invisible gold,rust-gold, Aand .other like forms or conditions ,of the .metals .thatare generally carried off .and lost in fthe debris of .a .gold lminingplant.

ln :carrying out the tforeg o',11.{:, general :0b- `ject, ithe present4intention also has in View an extracting machine of lthe .ainalgamatortype which may be :utili-Zed to great advantage as-oneiof the extractingunitsof a placer miningsystem.

Viiith these .and .other .obj @ets -view which will be .apparent tothose famili-ar with the art, the invention fconsists inthe noa/elyconstruction, combination, and arrangement .of 4pants herein fullydescribed, illusti ated,and claimed. p

Though susceptible of structural modification Without departing from the`invention., a preferred `and practical embodiment :thereof .is shown inthe .accompanying,draw- Aings, in Whichy Figure l is a vertical.sectional View .of superfline extracting machine .embodying theimprovements contemplated vthe present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlargedeleyational .view illustrating the `form and -moiuating of one oftheindividual amalgam plates. Fig. v3 is ran enlarged fragmentary,sectional View illustrating more clearly the structural,characteiflistics and relation of ia pair j.of .the amalgam plates inconnection with ,tl-restanti pipe with lwhich they are associated.

Like reference characters .designate P.correspondingparts the severalfiguresof the drawings,

YAs above indicated, the ,preferable ,app-lication of the presentinyention `is `as `one of the units of a placer mining system, wherein:the Washingsfrom Ithe boulders and gravel are subjected to a settlingoperation inratentea nee. ai, fiers.

volving the running ,off .of Water carrying "i metal-bearing material insuspension, that is, disintegrated clay in suspension, as Well as smalllight particles of metal, such .as

float-gold, invisible gold, rust-gold., and other forms of :the metal orinetal .bearing ,Substances that .are :generally .carried oli' land lostthe debris of the plant. Accordingly, the improved extracting machine ofthe present application is characterized as a superflue extractor, and.the same primarily includes in its organization a vfeeder stand- `pipel, Whose upper elld is extended through ,a watertight stufling `box 2yand communicates with the Vinterior of a supply sluice 3 through whichthe metal-charged Water is 'j conducted to the line of extractingmachines, only one of which 1s deemed necessary `for purposes ofillustration in this case.

The flow of Water, carrying .the metals ,and metal-bearing .Substancesin suspension, ,cheeked adjacent .the uppell Gnd of the stand-'pipe .lby means `of a baille plate i arranged transverselv of the ,supplysluice, but Aoff less height than the ,sluice ,so as to permit anoyerflovv .of Water to pass beyond to the next 'succeeding extractingmachine. The stand-pipe Ywhich is thus supplied with ,a .column .of thenietal-charged Water is `supported in a vertical or upright position andis rotatablygnounted Within .the stutling ,box

,2, .the louer end of the stand-,pipe being stepped in -a holding socket5 which is bolted or other-Wise rigidly `fastened to the central upperpart of ,a .turn-table 6.

" The ,turn-,table is arranged to loosely and horizontally rotate Withina retaining Abufer or buffers 7 and rides upon a series of supportingrollers 8 Journaled in suitable bracklets19 upon a base frame l0. Toprovide for l,

taking up .Wear and maintaining a steady rotation Jof the lturn-table 6,the latter has fitted to .the under side thereof a circular ytracliplate vl1l bearing on these lsupporting rollers. Movement is imparted tothe turntable .by any -suitable driving means which may convenientlyconsist of fa po-Wer driven .drive shaft l2 `supported over the baseframe lr() .21nd Carrying a friction driving pulley 13 frictionallyengaging 'the under-side of the turn .table A-and shiftable radiallythereof ac- .cording to the speed of rotation desired for .theturn-table. Any conif'entiona'l lshifting YK de-Vice, l as indicatedgenerally by the reference number 13a, may 'be employed for :tot

periphery.

changing the position of the driving`v pulley 13. y y

The revolving turn-table carries therewith an amalgamating unitconsisting primarily of the feeder stand-pipe l and a concentric seriesof superposed amalgam plates 14 adjustably fitted to and carried withthe stand-pipe in its rotation of the turn-table.

All of the superposed amalgam plates are similar in construction and areof the same form, that'is, each of said plates is of a frusto-coniealshape so that the same slopes downwardly from its point of attachment tothe stand-pipe to its outer spilling edge or lt will also be observedthat 1 by reason of the frusto-conical forms of the several amalgamplates, the same bear a nested relation 'one within the other, butnecessarily spaced a sufficient distance apart to permit each ofthe sameto carry out the amalgamating function thereof, and another distinctivefeature in the general arrangement of these amalgam plates is that thesame are of a graduated size, the same being successively of adiminishing diam eter from the uppermost to 'the lowermost plates of theunit.

Referring more particularly to the mounting of the individual amalgamplates and their relation to the stand-pipe and the other plates, itwill iirst be noted that the said plates are of circular form andpierced at the centers for the reception of the standing through thecollar, and preferably having inner burred ends 19 impinging on thestand-pipe.

The upright or sleeve portion of each plate-holding collar 15 is alsoprovided therein with a plurality of distributing ports 20 adapted tocommunicate with feeding ports 21 in the stand pipe to provide means forreceiving and distributing the metal charged waterV over the slopingupper side of the amalgam plate. A further function of each plateholdingV collar 15 is as a car rier for an annular baille hood 22,extending entirely about the collar and provided with an upstanding neckiiange 23 embracing the -collar and receiving the said screws 18 whichthereby support the hood 22 in operative position. rllhe said hood isalso provided at its outer edge with a depending deiecting flange 24lying 'beyond'and masking the distributing ports 20 so as to compel themetalcharged water to he deiiected in the irst instance directly ontothe crowned portion of the amalgam plate.

ln order to secure the necessary rigidity for the amalgamating unit andits firm support upon the turn-table, in connection with the stand-pipe,a plurality of upright brace bars 25 are employed. These brace bars areprovided at their' lower ends with attaching feet 26 adjustably held bythe screws 27 or equivalent fastening means to the turntable, and extendupwardly against the outer peripheral edges of the entire series ofamalgam plates. Each brace bar is rigidly connected to said outerperipheral edge portion of each amalgam plate by means of bolts orequivalent fastenings 2S passing through the depending ii anges of angleirons 29 whose upper iianges are rigidly secured by rivets 30 orotherwise, to the under side of the amalgam plate contiguous to theouter peripheral edge thereof. To complete the brace bar fastenings,there is preferably employed an outer circular retaining band 31 boltedto the entire series of brace bars and extending about the upper endportions thereof. It will thus be seen that all of the amalgam platesare rigidly held in their spaced relation while at the same time beingrigidly and firmly connected with the turn table so that all parts ofthe amalgainating unit are held for a steady and regular rotation withthe turn-table.

A cleaner spray pipe 32 is arranged concentrically within the feederstand-pipe l and'is connected with a suitable source of water supply.This spray pipe is provided at intervals therein with annular series ofjet openings 3? arranged in a horizontal plane of the ports 2O and 21and adapted to jet streams of water through such ports to prevent thesame from being clogged or ob structed with sand or sediment, and at thesame time assist in the discharge through the said ports 21 should themetal-charged water in the stand-pipe be largely impregnated with sandor sediment.

It will have been observed from the foregoing description that themetal-charged water passing out of the stand-pipe and through thevarious ports 20 is caused to spread in a thin film over the series ofamalgam plates, and this feeding operation is assisted by the action ofthe water jets from the jet openings 33, as above explained. As thewater iiows outward and downward on the amalgam plates, it would have atendency to run in streams, but this is prevented by the rotation of theamalgamating unit with the turn-table thereby causing the water tospread in a thin ilm over the entire surface of each amalgam plate, thuscausing` every particle of metal in the water to come in contact withthe amalgam plates, and

thereby successfully causing the extraction and recovery of the smalllight particles of gold, such as ioat-gcld, invisible gold, rust gold,and other forms of the metal which heretofore have been very diiiicultof recovery.

r1`he water spilling off of the outer peripheral edges of the amalgamplates, drips or falls into a circular run-off trough 34 arranged aboutthe turn table, and which trough carries the water off to the settlingreservoirs.

If it becomes desirable to vary the size of the openings or ports 21 toadjust the volume of discharge through such ports onto the amalgamplates, this may be accomplished bv loosening the various set screws 1Svand the bottom fastenings 26 for the brace bars 25, and then slightlyrotating the connected amalgam plates upon the standpipe, after whichthe same may be held in the newly set position by retightening thescrews 18 and securing the fastenings 26 in a new position.

Various changes in the form, proportion and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

l claim:

1. An extracting machine including, in combination, a circular run-offtrough, a rotatable feeder stand-pipe having feeding ports, and aconcentric series of superposed conical amalgam plates rigidly connectedat their apices with the stand-pipe and sloping outwardly and downwardlytherefrom, said amalgam plates being arranged to receive themetal-charged water from the standpipe, and of diminishing diametersfrom the uppermost to the lowermost plates of the series, all of saidamalgam plates having their spilling edges lying in the vertical planeof the run-off trough.

2. An extracting machine including, in combination, a turn-table, acircular run-off trough, a ported feeder stand-pipe carried by theturn-table, and a concentric series of superposed conical amalgam plateshaving an adjustable rigid connection at their apices with thestand-pipe and sloping outwardly and downwardly therefrom, the outerspilling edges of all of the amalgam plates discharging into the saidrun-off trough.

3. An extracting machine including a feeder stand-pipe having separatesets of feeding ports, a concentric series of superposed conical amalgamplates, a holding collar for each amalgam plate having a fasteningconnection with the stand pipe and provided with distributing portsregistering with a set of the feeding ports in the standpipe, and meansfor rotating the standpipe and series of amalgam plates as a unit.

4. An extracting machine including a feeder stand-pipe provided with aplurality of sets of feeding ports, a concentric series of superposedconical amalgam plates, a holding collar for each amalgam plate having arigid connection therewith at its inner edge portion, and also having anadjustable fastening connection with the stand-pipe, each holding collarbeing also provided with a series of distributing ports registering witha set of feeding ports in the stand-` pipe, and means for rotating thestand pipe and amalgam plates together as a unit.

5. An extracting machine including a feeder stand-pipe provided with aplurality of sets of feeding ports, a concentric series of superposedconical amalgam plates, there being one amalgam plate arranged below andreceiving the discharge from one set of the feeding ports, a baffle hoodarranged over the inner edge portion of each amalgam plate and maskingthe discharge of the feeding ports therefor, and means for rotating thestand-pipe and amalgam plates together as a unit.

6. An extracting machine including a feeder stand-pipe provided with aplurality of sets of feeding ports, a concentric series of superposedgraduated conical amalgam plates, holding collarsl secured to the inneredge portions of said plates, and each of which collars is provided witha plurality of distributing ports registering with a set of the feederports in the stand-pipe, a baffle hood arranged over the inner edgeportion of each amalgam plate beyond the feeding and distributing portstherefor, fastening means for supporting Ithe holding collars on thestand-pipe, said fastening means supporting the baffle hood, and meansfor rotating the standpipe and amalgam plates together as a unit.

1n testimony whereof 1 hereunto afix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES SUITER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD T. UAEL, EARL L. COLEMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C.

